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Billing code 44208: ColectomyMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports laparoscopic removal of part of the colon with a low pelvic connection to the rectum and creation of a colostomy.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities2K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,801.98 for 44208 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 44208

Colectomy

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
33.14
Total RVUs
53.95
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,801.98

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 44208 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 44208 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 44208 covers

This service covers laparoscopic removal of a portion of the colon, reconnection of the remaining colon to the rectum with a low pelvic anastomosis, and creation of a colostomy. Colorectal surgeons typically perform it for disease requiring resection when the operative plan includes both the low connection and a colostomy. The operative report should establish the laparoscopic approach and describe the resection, anastomosis, and stoma created.

Select this code when all three elements are documented; a low anastomosis alone does not distinguish it from the related colectomy code without colostomy. The colostomy creation is included in this combined service. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care. For multiple procedures in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 44208 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

44208 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,645.84
Alaska*Unavailable$2,285.41
ArizonaUnavailable$1,755.11
ArkansasUnavailable$1,626.88
AtlantaUnavailable$1,857.88
AustinUnavailable$1,805.96
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,780.59
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,907.19
BeaumontUnavailable$1,743.68
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,757.29

44208 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
44208 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 44208 rate is calculated

Each of 44208’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 44208

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 33.14Practice expense 14.10Malpractice 6.71

53.9500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,801.98

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 44208

44208 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 44208

Colectomy

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.09/0.81/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 44208

Colectomy

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

44208 without 51 · national facility

$1,801.98

Colectomy

44208-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$900.99

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

44208 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

44208 vs 44207 vs 44206 vs 44204 vs 44213: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 44208
    Colectomy · 33.14 wRVU
    —
  • 44207
    Colectomy · 31.12 wRVU
    —
  • 44206
    Partial colectomy · 29.05 wRVU
    —
  • 44204
    Partial colectomy · 25.76 wRVU
    —
  • 44213
    Splenic flexure · 3.41 wRVU
    —

How to choose

44207Colectomy
Both describe laparoscopic partial colectomy with a low pelvic anastomosis. Choose 44208 when a colostomy is also created; choose 44207 when it is not.
44206Partial colectomy
44206 describes an end colostomy with closure of the distal bowel segment, not a low pelvic anastomosis with colostomy.
44204Partial colectomy
44204 is laparoscopic partial colectomy with anastomosis without the low pelvic connection and colostomy combination specified for 44208.
44213Splenic flexure
44213 is an add-on for laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization performed with partial colectomy; it does not replace the colectomy code.

Codes related to 44208

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 44208
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
44207ColectomySimilar laparoscopic partial colectomy and low pelvic anastomosis, without the colostomy element.No office rate
44204Partial colectomyLaparoscopic partial colectomy with anastomosis, but without the specified low pelvic connection and colostomy.No office rate
44205ColectomyLaparoscopic partial colectomy involving removal of terminal ileum and an ileocolic connection.No office rate
Used instead
44206Partial colectomyLaparoscopic partial colectomy with end colostomy and closure of the distal segment, rather than a low anastomosis.No office rate
Add-on codes
44213Splenic flexureAdd-on for laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure with partial colectomy.No office rate

44208 billing questions

How does this differ from 44207?

Both involve a partial colectomy with a low pelvic anastomosis. Use 44208 when the operation also creates a colostomy; use 44207 when it does not.

Is the colostomy reported separately?

The colostomy is part of this combined service. The operative report should document its creation along with the resection and low pelvic anastomosis.

Can modifier 50 be used?

No. The anatomy and service described make a bilateral adjustment and modifier 50 inappropriate.

How are other procedures in the same session paid?

Under the standard multiple procedure reduction, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are paid at 50% when performed in the same session.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

What postoperative care is included?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and 90 days of related postoperative care.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 44208PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,372 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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